06-03-2025
Toddler dies after hours without food; mother blames migraine
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CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. (WJW) – A Missouri mother has been arrested and charged in the death of her toddler after investigators say the 1-year-old was not fed for nearly two days and subsequently passed away.
According to a press release from the Missouri State Highway Patrol, a division of the Department of Public Safety, the Cape Girardeau Police Department and the MSHP Division of Drug and Crime Control began the investigation into the suspicious death of a one-year-old child.
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According to the release, 21-year-old Alyssa Wehmeyer was arrested on March 3 after it was determined that the child suffered from severe malnutrition and neglect, resulting in the child's death.
According to PEOPLE, a warrant arrest document showed that Wehmeyer is accused of not feeding the child for about 43 hours.
A probable cause affidavit also confirmed that an autopsy determined that the child's cause of death was dehydration, according to PEOPLE.
According to PEOPLE, the documents showed that it was determined the child had been left unattended in their crib for almost 19 hours.
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According to PEOPLE, the probable cause affidavit stated Wehmeyer blamed the neglect on the fact that she had a migraine, had taken three Excedrin and had taken a nap.
Wehmeyer was taken to the Scott County Jail and then officially charged with one count of abuse or neglect of a child resulting in death on Tuesday, according to the release.
Wehmeyer is currently being held on a $100,000 cash bond.
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